Background

In 2003, a conflict in the western region of Darfur, Sudan, began when rebel groups accused the central government of neglecting the area.  In response, a government-backed militia known as the Janjaweed has been engaging in a genocidal campaign to wipe out communities of Muslim African tribal farmers in Darfur.  To date, about 400,000 people have been killed, and 2.2 million have been displaced in clashes between indigenous rebel groups and the government. 

Refugees have been fleeing to big cities and neighboring countries such as Chad and Egypt, seeking safety.  In Egypt, the situation of the Sudanese refugees is dire; they lack basic rights, are on the verge of starvation, and suffer from frequent harassment by the authorities.  During a protest in December 2005, 27 were killed by the Egyptian police, while many others were injured, detained and deported back to Sudan.

Consequently, out of desperation, some have fled to Israel seeking refuge.  Currently about 1,200 Darfuris are in Israel with about 500 in Tel Aviv and the rest primarily working in agricultural settlements and hotels in Eilat.

Mission and Organizational History

On August 15th, 2007, Sons of Darfur was established in Israel.  Sons of Darfur is a non-profit humanitarian organization that works to develop a communal identity for Darfurian refugees in Israel through provision of social, health, educational and cultural programming and services.  Our aim is to empower the community; we help individual members achieve self-sufficiency and economic independence while acting together to advance our socio-economic status as a group.  While we primarily assist the Darfurian community, our group also provides vital assistance and consultation to other refugee communities such as those from South Sudan and Eritrea.

Sons of Darfur was founded by a core group of some of the first 50 Darfurian refugees to enter Israel.  While still detained by the authorities in Israeli prisons, these activists decided to create a self-help and self-advocacy association with the belief that they could best understand and address the needs of their own community.  During their prolonged detention, community members began to teach each other English to prepare for their release and increase their success in finding employment.  Upon release from prison Sons of Darfur formally established itself.

Goals

Recently, due to advocacy by the Sons of Darfur, other groups and the international community, the government granted 600 Darfurian refugees in Israel temporary residency status.  However, refugees in Israel continue to faces many challenges to healthy integration.  Sons of Darfur is committed to addressing these challenges in the following ways:

• To ensure that the basic needs of every refugee are met including housing, employment, medical care and education.
• To ensure that refugees are educated about their rights and have access to those who can help realize them.
• To advance and empower women and youth, by encouraging education and increasing accessibility to educational and employment opportunities.
• To build a strong sense of community among refugees and a network for mutual aid.
• To reunite refugees with lost and displaced relatives.
• To raise the level of awareness of the genocide in Darfur and the plight of refugees living in Israel, within Israel and international community.

Accomplishments

In the short time since our founding, we have achieved the following:

• We have found housing for more than 17 families and assisted some 1,000 single refugees in employment and housing.
• We have conducted in-depth interviews and registration of some 750 Darfuris.
• Together with the Tel Aviv Municipality, we have registered 100 children for school.
• We have established regular Hebrew and English language lessons for adults.
• Our presence in Israel, and meetings with government officials, has raised awareness of the genocide occurring in Darfur. This activism has encouraged the government to assist our community in Israel and advocate on behalf of ending the genocide in Darfur.

Bnai Darfur is committed to ensuring that our community realizes its potential to be positive and contributing members of Israeli society while using our strong position to assist other, less fortunate, refugee communities in Israel.  We hope you will join us in these efforts.